BlackRock Witnessed First Outflow: Is Bitcoin’s Price The Reason?

BlackRock, the world’s largest ETF manager, experienced its first-ever outflow in IBIT since April 24, amid Bitcoin ETFs shrinking 20% since March.

Since Spot Bitcoin (BTC) ETFs were approved, all the ETF providers have outperformed. On Wednesday, BlackRock’s iShare Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), the most successful fund, witnessed its first-ever outflow since April 24.   

Since March, Bitcoin ETFs shrinking by 20% has emerged as a key reason behind the outflow. Furthermore, Bitcoin’s halving and the Federal Reserve’s dovish fiscal policy also accelerated the IBIT’s outflow.   

IBIT’s Total Bitcoin Spot ETF Net Inflow

On May 1, outflows were recorded for each ETF, showcasing the greatest losses since sport BTC ETF approval in January 2024. At press time, the BTC ETF has a trading volume of $1.91 Billion with a total market capitalization of $51.18 Billion.   

BlackRock (BLK), the first and biggest ETF manager, witnessed an outflow for the first time since April 24. Fortune Magazine circulated the news over the social media platform X. 

According to Coinglass data, BlackRock’s IBIT, with around $17.24 Billion in assets under management (AUM), documented ETF shares liquidation on May 1. Over $36.68 Million worth of shares were liquidated by the users.    

IBIT Total Bitcoin Spot ETF Net Inflow (USD) I Source: Coinglass 

Before the event, no significant activities were recorded in IBIT ETFs, indicating the silence before the storm. Since April 24, no inflows or outflows have been recorded. 

High volatility in BTC prices could be a reason behind the loss. BTC recorded its all-time high of $73,000 in March and experienced a sudden drop of 20% since, trading at $58,987.59 at press time.   

In the same way, Bitcoin’s halving and the Federal Reserve’s dovish fiscal policy prioritizing economic growth and employment over stringent inflation control also catalyzed IBIT ETF’s outflow.       

How Has The Shrink Impacted Other Spot Bitcoin ETFs? 

Besides BlockRock, Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), and Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC), the other two most significant funds also experienced a downturn.

At the press time, FBTC was trading at $52.91 and recorded an outflow of $193.76 Million on 2 May 2024. GBTC, on the other hand, recorded no inflows since the first day of ETF approvals, hitting $618.16 million of outflow on 19 March 2024. It was trading at $54.06 at the press time.     

BlackRock’s Letter To Investors

BlackRock, founded in 1988, is a prominent player in the asset management industry. It offers a wide range of investment, advisory, and risk management solutions and has over 808.3K followers.

On May 3, BlockRock’s CEO Larry Fink joined The Bid podcast to discuss the demands for Artificial Intelligence, energy security, and the role of private capital in financial investments.  

“I do believe in the role of infrastructure because of the amount of capital that is going to be necessary to build a sustainable financial system, it’s going to continue to stimulate the economy,” said Larry Fink.   

Andrew Smith

Andrew is a blockchain developer who developed his interest in cryptocurrencies while pursuing his post-graduation major in blockchain development. He is a keen observer of details and shares his passion for writing, along with coding. His backend knowledge about blockchain helps him give a unique perspective to his writing skills, and a reliable craft at explaining the concepts such as blockchain programming, languages ​​and token minting. He also frequently shares technical details and performance indicators of ICOs and IDOs.